312-8 one rear hub keeps sliding towards transmission

[Davidbrianlove 0]

Howdy all,

I was putting tire chains and the plow on my 312-8 last night, and I remembered that I spent most of the summer cutting grass with the left rear wheel hub slid back the axle towards the tranny. I loosened the two set bolts that appear to grip the axle, and tapped the hub back out. I wanted to tap it all the way off to see if there's a reason it slid in, but I couldn't get the hub off of the axle. I hit it pretty hard, but didn't want to hit it hard enough to break something. I had loosened the two bolts until they seemed almost ready to fall out, but not all the way out. It was getting late, so I tightened the two bolts in as far as they would go (a 7/16 socket doesn't seem to grab them just right - that's another question - what head is on those two bolts?). Any way, can anyone think of any reasons the hub wouldn't come off, and how do I keep the hub from sliding in the on the axle towards the tranny. Thanks!

Dave

[608KEB 795]

Your key, or axle or hub keyway may be worn out. Do not hit the hub or axle with any hard force. The axles are held in place with a C-clip and you may knock that off inside the transmission. I would get a hub puller or flywheel puller to get the Hub off. Since the hub is lose it sounds like you don't have to heat it to get it off. If the keyway is ground out, I have used a larger key and ground it to fit. You may need a new hub. I would also check your other hub.

[squonk 41,017]

Those bolts are square head. You need an 8 point socket.

[Martin 2,131]

without going out and checking, i think a 3/8 open ender fits the square head. a decent quality wrench wont open up as you tighten it and round off the head. a nice tight adjustable will work too. you shouldnt need to tighten them that much that rounding the head happens. replacing the screw is an option too if the point is gone and the screw wont hold anymore.

ive dealt with loose hubs before and 9 times out of 10 its better if you take the hub off and take a close look for wear with the hub, axle, keyway first. those setscrews arent meant to hold a loose assembly together......

[groundhog47 347]

I put regular allen socket, set screws in. Mine used to wander in on one side, but quit before square head set screw changed out, but changed for convenience. Short fall it may fill up with debris and give me fits removin'. If all else fails and you have enough inboard axel shaft exposed, you could consider a fastened secured collar as back up, long as doesn't hit/rub seals.Let us know what ya come up with. Thanks

Edited December 23, 2012 by groundhog47

[meadowfield 2,570]

I generally take the hubs off and grind a flat section into the key itself where the set screw has left a mark.

This guarantees the hub cannot slide inwards again.

Mark

[Don1977 604]

Replace the the woodruff key and the set screws if the key way in the hub and axle still look good. Keep a watch on it as it can destroy the hub and axle.

[Davidbrianlove 0]

Thanks for all the good and quick feedback - will Home Depot have hub puller? I have a couple gift cards floating around in my truck somewhere.

Dave

[Don1977 604]

Thanks for all the good and quick feedback - will Home Depot have hub puller? I have a couple gift cards floating around in my truck somewhere.

Dave

I don't think you will find one at Home Depot. Northern Tool, or Harbor Freight should have one that doesn't brake the bank. An auto part will have a better one but the price will be a lot more. I have an old cheap one from WT Tool that pulls the hub.

[can whlvr 993]

heres a pic of a homemade one i built,it will pull hubs that wont move and havnt moved for years,you dont need that given your hub moves allready,but with a bit of fabbing it cost me nothing but some shop time

[whc160 74]

Here is a link to how I fix my hubs when they move.

Any more I just do this with all of my hubs when I have them off to replace the axle seals. Then I don't have to worry about the hubs moving.

[JackC 617]

My D-160 has spacers between the hubs and transmission so that the hubs can't come inward..

If worse comes to worse you may be able to use a piece of black ABS pipe as a spacer to keep the hub out where it belongs.

You could also use white PVC but the spacers on my D-160 are black.

[midnight rambler 36]

the pvc spacer is a good idea (the 520s had spacers that went between the hub and housing) and also set one of the set screws and drill a small dimple in the other one (prefly the one with the keyway) it will hold both the key and the hub in place. also a small amount of lock tite on it wont hurt anything.

Edited December 24, 2012 by tomwh1971